@decensorednews reported:
In its meeting today, the Security Council was discussing the situation in the Middle East.
ERC Griffiths reiterates demand for compliance with international humanitarian law, including protection of civilians; protection of hospitals; release of all hostages; and humanitarian ceasefire “so that we can start rebuilding Gaza and giving its families a sense of a future”
China tells the UN Security Council: “The ICJ has taken forceful action” in “the face of repeated violations of international law” and repeated breaches of “human dignity, morality, and conscience.”
“The Security Council has no alternative but to take further action—swiftly—with the greatest sense of responsibility and the strongest determination to safeguard justice, save live, and achieve peace.” “There has long been an overwhelming consensus in the international community for an immediate ceasefire. Yet, it’s regrettable that a certain country has persisted in their obstruction…” “The Security Council should take strong action to [pool/pull] all diplomatic efforts towards an immediate ceasefire. Israel should immediately cease its indiscriminate military attacks and destruction in Gaza…”
“There has long been an overwhelming consensus in the international community for an immediate ceasefire. Yet, it’s regrettable that a certain country has persisted in their obstruction…”
South Africa to the UN Security Council: “We reiterate that the international community CANNOT proclaim the importance of international law and the importance of the UN Charter in SOME situations and not in others, as if the rule of law only applies to a select few.” “For international law to be credible, it should be uniformly applied, and not selective.”
South Africa summarizes Israel’s obligations under the ICJ order to the UN Security Council “These provisional measures are directly binding on Israel…” “There’s clearly no credible basis for Israel continue to claim that its military actions are in full compliance with international law, including the Genocide Convention…”
South Africa puts the US and other countries on notice at the UN Security Council: Per the Genocide Convention and ICJ order, they must “act independently and immediately to prevent genocide by Israel, and to ensure that they are not themselves in violation of the Genocide Convention, including by aiding or assisting in the commission of genocide.” “This necessarily imposes an obligation on ALL states to cease funding and facilitating Israel’s military actions…”
South Africa notes that—as an occupying power—Israel does not have a right to “self-defense” under international law in their war on Gaza, and that the ICJ’s ruling merely “noted” Israel’s attempt to claim otherwise, “without giving it any further credence.” “The assertion by the representatives of the United States and Israel that the court reaffirmed the US understanding of the issue of self-defense is not accurate.” “The decision by the court marks a decisive victory for the international rule of law, and a significant milestone in the search for justice for the Palestinian people.”
“Unfortunately in the days since the court’s decision, we have seen the Israeli government continue its illegal actions in violation of the court order.” They pledge to “continue to act within institutions of global governance” to protect the rights of Palestinians—“including the fundamental right to life”—which remain at “urgent risk.” “We encourage states that are so inclined to approach the court to intervene in the proceedings, so as to send a strong message to the international community that the situation in the Gaza Strip is indefensible.”